Chapter 117: Ascending to the Swordmaster's Realm!
"You troublemaker," she scolded, her voice laced with concern, "release me now, or you might end up losing your dear old mom."
"Hehe, sorry, Mom. I got a bit carried away," her daughter replied, quickly relinquishing her mother's embrace and playfully sticking out her tongue.
"Besides, Mom, you're making it sound way too dramatic."
Watching her daughter's playful antics, Mrs. Yuigahama couldn't help but roll her eyes once more.
However, in the depths of her thoughts, she harbored some concerns of her own. To her discerning eyes, this Hachiman fellow appeared exceptionally remarkable. Could her naive daughter truly capture his heart?
Mrs. Yuigahama had noticed that within the same kendo club, there were at least two girls who rivaled her daughter in beauty. With the passage of time, it was only natural for feelings to develop.
It seemed like she needed to devise a plan to assist her daughter in this intricate dance of young hearts.
As she observed Yui still giggling foolishly, Mrs. Yuigahama made her decision.
...
Meanwhile, at the competition venue, the fervent cheers for the enigmatic "One-Strike Shura" continued to escalate.
Not only within the arena but also among the online livestream viewers, discussions were ablaze.
["Incredible! He's taking on Shimabara High School's team of five single-handedly. That's beyond belief!"]
["I remember watching the last Kendo Inter-High School Championship, and Shimabara High School was a powerhouse, especially their ace, Ichiro Chiba. He could handle three opponents on his own. I never thought he'd fall so easily this time."]
["Hold on, if we calculate, doesn't this mean that the Sobu High School player has secured an eighteen-win streak? Is he even human?"]
["Well, you can't judge everyone by the same standard. I once punched through a 5-centimeter-thick steel plate out of sheer jealousy and rage."]
["You did? Well, I once encountered a tiger in the wilderness and walked away unscathed."]
["No way! Seriously? Beating a tiger can't be that simple. But hey, when it pounces, just do a slide tackle..."]
....
"It's finally over," Hachiman muttered under his breath, a sigh of relief escaping from beneath his face mask. His visage bore the signs of intense effort, with sweat glistening on his brow.
As the referee declared his victory, the proficiency points he had lacked by just over a thousand were miraculously replenished, and his kendo level ascended from level four to level five.
In response, he instinctively closed his eyes, mentally revisiting and perfecting the kendo techniques he had learned. An ethereal aura seemed to envelop him.
"Hmm? How can this be?" Chiba Shigetsugu, seated in the commentator's booth, couldn't believe his eyes. He rose from his chair, wearing an expression of sheer disbelief.
"Master Chiba, what's happening?" His companion, Misaki Kosaka, inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Hachiman, who had just reopened his eyes, possessed a gleam of intense determination.
"Sword... Master!"
"What did you say?"
"This young man has just attained the status of a Swordmaster," Chiba Shigetsugu announced slowly, each word carrying profound significance.
"What?!" Misaki Kosaka's jaw nearly dropped in astonishment.
"Do you mean to say that this player, Hikigaya from Sobu High School, has reached the level of a Swordmaster?!"
Their conversation echoed through the arena's microphones, broadcasting their incredulity to the entire crowd.
The chants of "One-Strike Shura" that had echoed through the arena came to an abrupt halt.
"Sword... Master!"
Someone, their identity unclear, deliberately enunciated these two words, and like wildfire, it swept through the entire arena.
"Swordmaster!" "Swordmaster!" "Swordmaster!"
"Shura Swordmaster!" "Shura Swordmaster!" "Shura Swordmaster!" "Shura Swordmaster!"
The kendo arena reverberated with the nearly ecstatic cheers of the crowd, as if they had already anointed Hachiman with the prestigious title of Swordmaster.
What had just transpired? They had borne witness to the ascension of a Swordmaster.
This was a Swordmaster, a rare and revered figure in the entire realm of Japanese kendo.
Photographers hurriedly aimed their lenses at Hachiman, capturing close-up shots of him.
Hachiman's visage, now slightly more handsome, appeared on the large screen. Having just attained the rank of Swordmaster, he exuded an indescribable aura that seemed to enhance his charisma, rendering him even more striking in the eyes of the beholders.
"Hikki, he looks so handsome!"
"Oh, Onii-chan, why did he suddenly become so handsome?"
"Hachiman-kun... um..."
"This kid, what's going on? How can he suddenly be so captivating? He's clearly just a kid who hasn't even fully grown his hair."
Yui, Komachi, Utaha, and Shizuka, all of them, saw the close-up of Hachiman, and his newfound handsomeness left them mesmerized.
Among his teammates from Sobu High School, the news of Hachiman reaching the Swordmaster level was equally astonishing.
Saeko, in particular, who had witnessed Hachiman's previous enlightenment just over two months ago, couldn't believe it. In her memory, even for a prodigy like Hachiman, it should have taken at least four or five years to achieve the Swordmaster level.
But now, in a little over two months, he had experienced another enlightenment, leaving the young girl in disbelief.
"Master Chiba, are you absolutely sure that this Hikigaya player has truly attained the realm of a Swordmaster?"
As the host, Misaki Kosaka, still found it hard to fathom.
"There's no doubt; this sensation unmistakably belongs to someone who has reached the Swordmaster level."
"No wonder Ichiro lost so quickly. It seems he was on the verge of attaining the Swordmaster level himself."
Chiba Shigetsugu spoke with unwavering confidence and then left the commentator's booth, making his way toward Hachiman.
Even the experienced host, Misaki Kosaka, was momentarily left in awe upon hearing Chiba Shigetsugu, the contemporary Swordmaster, repeatedly confirm Hachiman's remarkable achievement.
Being a seasoned kendo enthusiast himself, Misaki Kosaka felt deeply honored to host the Kendo Inter-High School Championship. However, today had brought forth something truly extraordinary – the emergence of a Swordmaster at the mere age of 16!
Wait a moment, a 16-year-old Swordmaster. Did this not imply that Hikigaya-kun had the potential... the potential to aspire to the legendary realm of the Sword Saint, a feat unattained for centuries?
In this very moment, Chiba Shigetsugu also approached Hachiman, a warm smile gracing his features.
"Hikigaya player, or rather, Hikigaya-kun, congratulations on attaining the Swordmaster realm."
Hachiman had just reached the Swordmaster level, and despite it being a recent achievement, it earned him the respect of Chiba Shigetsugu.
"Uncle, I'm sorry, I lost. I apologize for not living up to your teachings." Chiba Ichiro, burdened with guilt, bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle upon seeing his uncle approaching.
"It's alright, Hikigaya-kun was already on the verge of achieving the Swordmaster level previously. Ichiro, your defeat was not in vain. However, remember to continue practicing when you return."
Watching his nephew, Chiba Shigetsugu waved his hand with a warm smile and then redirected his attention to Hachiman.
"I wonder which school Hikigaya-kun practices under."
Due to Hachiman consistently defeating his opponents with just one strike, Chiba Shigetsugu couldn't discern which kendo school he belonged to.
"Master Chiba, I..."
Hachiman began to respond but was swiftly interrupted by Chiba Shigetsugu.
"Hikigaya-kun, there's no need to be so formal. We are equals now; you can address me as Chiba."
"In that case, I'll call you Mr. Chiba." Hachiman was taken aback by the straightforwardness of the renowned Swordmaster of the Kitachin Itto-ryu, causing him to hesitate for a moment.
"To be honest, I don't belong to any specific school. If we had to categorize, I'm a half-disciple of the Busujima-ryu."
"Oh, a half-disciple?" This intrigued Chiba Shigetsugu.
"Yes, because my father didn't officially accept Hikigaya-kun, it was me who taught him the Busujima-ryu sword techniques."
At some point, Saeko had joined Hachiman.
"It turns out you're Busujima-kun's daughter. It's been a while."
Upon seeing Saeko's face, Chiba Shigetsugu recognized her as the daughter of Masao Busujima and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Yes, Master Chiba, it has indeed been a while." Saeko, being in the same Swordmaster realm as her father, offered a slight bow in his direction.
"Miss Busujima, it's been a while."
Seeing his crush approach, Chiba Ichiro also smiled and greeted her, attempting to capture her attention.
However, the young woman merely nodded politely in his direction and didn't engage further.
"Hachiman-kun, congratulations on your achievement. I never expected you to reach the Swordmaster level so quickly," Saeko looked at Hachiman with gentleness, offering her congratulations.
Even though the girl was excited deep inside, she maintained the demeanor of a refined young lady, displaying flawless etiquette.
"Oh, don't mention it. It's all thanks to your guidance, Saeko," Hachiman replied, shaking his head with a warm smile.
Observing the interaction between the two and recalling Saeko's words from earlier, Chiba Shigetsugu couldn't help but shake his head in resignation.
It seemed that there was no chance for his nephew in matters of the heart.
"Haha, I won't intrude on your celebration any longer," Chiba Shigetsugu chuckled, observing the tender moment between Hachiman and Saeko. "With another Swordmaster from the Busujima-ryu, I'm sure Mr. Busujima would be thrilled."
"Hikigaya-kun, do remember to pay a visit to the Tokyo Kendo Association when you have the chance. I'll personally grant you the title of Swordmaster."
Seeing the heartfelt exchange, Chiba Ichiro realized his chances were slim, so he followed his uncle, feeling somewhat disheartened.
With Chiba Shigetsugu's departure, other members of Sobu High School's kendo club rushed over to congratulate Hachiman.
"Hikigaya-kun, congratulations..."
"Hikigaya-kun, you're amazing, a Swordmaster!"
"Hikigaya-kun, congrats on reaching Swordmaster."
In another part of the kendo arena:
"Wow, I can't believe he's only our age, and he's already become a Swordmaster. That's why Sensei wanted to challenge him, right? Because Sensei knew he would reach Swordmaster today?" Yuji exclaimed.
"Fufufu," Gojo chuckled.
"Then that means he's the youngest Swordmaster and has a high chance of becoming a Sword Saint and becoming the strongest..." Yuji continued, but Gojo interrupted him.
"Don't worry, I'm the strongest," Gojo declared with a confident smile as he stretched his arms above his head.
Nobara and Megumi looked at their teacher with admiration and confidence in their eyes. To them, Gojo was incredibly cool.
Mai sighed as she watched the two with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Let's go find Maki," she suggested, leading the way with her friends.
.....
Their kendo club had produced a Swordmaster, an incredible honor.
Upon returning to the hotel, the members of Sobu High School's kendo club held a joyous celebration.
They toasted their double championships in both the men's and women's divisions and heartily congratulated Hachiman on achieving the coveted status of Swordmaster.
The atmosphere was harmonious as Saeko and Kotonoha took it upon themselves to serve Hachiman delicious food.
Although some of the male students couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy, they recognized that Hachiman's accomplishment was well-deserved.
After all, Hachiman had become their hero.
At nine in the evening, the celebration eventually drew to a close. Hachiman decided to unwind by soaking in the hot spring before retiring to his room.
However, he had scarcely settled in when a gentle knock resounded at his door.
Opening the door, Hachiman was met with the sight of Saeko standing before him, dressed in her pajamas, appearing fresh and lively.